Latch



W. H. APPLEBY.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY]. 1915.

Patented Mar. 9,1920.

I /4il WILLIAM H. APPLEBY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ENGLISH & 'MERSICK 00., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

LA cH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

Application filed May 7, 1915. Se'rial No. 26,651.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. APPLEBY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, new and useful Improvements in Latches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in latches for the doors of automobiles and other vehicles in which the latch bolt has heretofore been actuated by means of'a r0- tatable rod or shaft, connected With and projecting at a right angle to the path of movement of the latch bolt.

The prime object of my invention broadly stated is to actuate the latch bolt by means of a reciprocating rod or shaft connected therewith, and whereby the lifting of the rod produces a retracting movement of said bolt. F

More specifically stated the object of my invention is a latch for the doors of automobiles and other vehicles wherein the latch bolt is normally projected to a locking position by means of a spring, and retracted on lifting a reciprocating rod or shaft connected therewith.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a connection between the latch bolt and the reciprocating rod as will effectually prevent .a movement of any part of the latch mechanism producing a rattling sound from the contacting of the metallic surfaces thereof.

A further object of my invention is a latch, the bolt of which is actuated by means of a reciprocating rod, the construction and arrangement of the parts of which when ap-' plied to a door render the latch dust proof,

and reduces the necessary cutting away of the door to a minimum.

Another object of my invention is to combine with a latch the bolt of which is actuated by a reciprocating rod with a rollback, operated from the side of the door, and adapted for retracting the latch bolt lndependently of the reciprocating rod therefor, which rollback is so constructed and arranged that it is held from rattling against the latch case, and against, the means through which it actuates.thebolt.

A further object of my 1nvent1on 1s .to provide a lock wherein the latch bolt is actuated by means of a reciprocatlng rod prohave invented certain pro ecting transversely jecting therefrom parallel with the face of a door to approximately minimum cheapness in when constructed with ack.

With these ends in view, my invention finds embodiment in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects are attained,

fully described with referthetop thereof, of cost and parts. both and without a rollall as hereinafter ence to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 illustrates in elevation .a latch in which my invention finds embodiment, in its operation 11 on the door of an automobile or carriage, 'Wltll dotted lines indicating the movement of the several parts of the latch mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing theada tation thereto of a rollback whereby the latch bolt may be actuated independently by means of a reciprocating rod projectin up- Wardly toward the top of the door and lndependently of said rod by means of a rollback operated through the medium of a spindle,

through the door.

Fig. 3 1s a detail section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a detail section takenon the hue 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings. I

The base 6 of the latch case, and the slotted faceplate 7 are, and may be of any suitable construction and material adapted for the purposes of my invention, and for respectively supporting a reciprocating latch bolt 8, provided with the usual bevel 9 at its forward end.

Formed with or otherwise secured to the latch bolt is a plate 10, substantially rectangular in form, provided longitudinally with an elongated slot 11 and supported by.a stud 12, projecting from the base plate 6 having a reduced end 13 forming a shoulder 14 providing a bearing surface for the plate and I line through the slot in the face plate of the latch case.

Projecting from the latch bolt plate 10 is a lug 16, the surface of which is opposed by the curved surface of an arm 17 of a bell crank 18, pivotally mounted on a stud. 19, projecting from the base plate of the latch case, the other arm 20 of which bell crank extends at substantially a right angle to the arm 17, and projects in the path of movement of a reciprocating rod 21, by meansof a slot 22 formed therein, the end walls of .which are provided with convexed surfaces 23 and 24 forming bearings for a convex surface 25 and. a concave surface 26, forming respectively the top and bottom edges of the end of the arm20, whereby the resistance of a spring projecting the bolt and normally maintaining the rod 21 at the limit of its downward and inward movement is reduced when the rod is at the limit of its upward stroke when the latch bolt is fullyretracted. In other words with the bolt projecting from the face plate with the rod at the limit of its downward movement the arm 17 is extended at a right angle to the rod with a ortion of but.0ne end of its concave surace in contact with the convex end wall of the slot struck as they are on arcs of circles differing in diameter, and that when the,

bolt is retracted against the resistance of a spring, the rod is at the limit of its upward stroke with the arm projecting at an oblique angle to the rod and contacting with about half the surface of the convex end of the slot, and thereby producing a 00 respondingly increased friction between the arm and the rod, which together with the oblique position of the arm tends to sustain the rod in its elevated position against the resistance of the springv suflicien'tly to require less force on the part of the operator to hold the rod in its elevated position than is necessary 110 lift it to that position. As a convenient means for projecting the bolt, a stud 27 fixed to the base plate 6 is provided with a slot 28, in which is projecte'd the bent end 29 of a spring 30, coiled about the stud, and provided with an arm 31 bent therefrom opposed to the surface of the lug 16 of the latch plate opposite that of the arm 17, and thereby automatically operating to normally project the latch bolt from the case.

Any other ordinary form of spring, how ever, adapted for the purpose, may be used.

For convenience in lifting the rod to'retract the latch bolt within the latch case against the resistance of the spring 30 there is mounted upon and secured to the upper end of the rod a finger grasp 32, preferably concavo, convex, and semi-cup shape inform, with the straight edge thereof arranged adj acent the door to which the lock is attached, and provided with an inwardly projecting hub 33, either screw-threaded or square in cross section, as may be, securing it to or fitting it upon the rod 21, and if square in of constructing bearings for directing and limiting the inward movement of the rod 21 (see-Fig- 5) the base plate 6 'is bent outwardly at 38 to form a bearing substantially semi-circular in cross section, and forming a bearing for the adjacent rounded surface of the bolt, the opposite side ofwhich iscut away to form a shoulder 39, and has its bearmg a ainst a plate 40 secured to the base plate' y means of rivets 41, the upper edge of which plate 40 is adapted to be engaged by the shoulder 39 and thereby furnish a stop limiting the downward movement of the rod and at the same time prevent the turning of the latter in its bearings, the upper bearing of the reciprocating rod 21 is in a collar 42 projecting from a plate 43, riveted or otherwise secured to the outer face of the base plate, and grooved, to fit over and against the endof the bearing 38.

It Wlll now be observed that the bolt 8 bears at one side against the face of the latch case, and that at the opposite side against an 10? inwardly projecting tongue 44 bent from the face plate, and tothis extent is prevented from wearlng away the Walls surrounding the opening in the face plate.

In Figs. 2 and 4 is illustrated the adapta- 1061 7 tion to the lock herein before described, for the purposes of a rollback lock, that is to say a lock, wherein'the bolt may be actuated through the medium of a spindle projecting laterally throu ha door, as well as inde-- ipendently of t e reciprocating rod before I descr1bed, and to which end there is no change 1n the latch mechanism previously described, except to provide the crank arm 18 with a flat surface 45, adapted to be op- I: posed by a correspondingly flat surface 46 on a cam 47 mounted upon a hub 48 provided with a reduced portion 49 projecting through and bearmg in the base plate and through which pro ects a spindle 50, upset as indicated at 51, against the inner end of the hub, and to the outerend of which spindle is secured a handle 52 provided with a surrounding flange 53 bearing against a washer 54, recessed in the outer face of the door 36.

1 The cam or rollback 47 is provided adjacent the faceplate 7 with a fiat surface 55 normally in contact with the opposing parallel inner surface of the slotted face plate 7, that is to say until the cam 47 isoperated to throughout the movement of the bell crank actuate the bolt and also when the bolt is bem operated by the reciprocatingrod 21.

he parallel fiat surfaces 46 and 55 of the rollback-merge into a semi-circular connecting surface 56, the effect of which is to maintain contact of the cam with the face plate from the instant that the parallel faces of the cam begin to move respectively away from the face plate and the bell crank, on turning the spindle for withdrawing the bolt from its keeper (not shown) and and the rollback, to and from their positions indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and when at the same time the rod 21 is lifted by the arm 20 of the bell crank as shown by the dotted lines of the drawings.

With the cam-rollback constructed as above described, contact is constantly maintained between it and the 'bell crank, and with the face plate of its 'inclosing case thereby eflectually preventing any looseness of contact of the cam either with the face plate or the bell crank lever, and such a shaking of either as would produce an obj ectionable rattling sound from any jars possible to impart to the latch by the vehicle to which it is applied.

It will now be observed that the inner end of the hub has its bearings in a plate 57, provided with an u cured to the face plate y means of a rivet 59, and through which projects the pin 19 mg his fingers under the curved plate 32,

lift the rod until the bolt is on which the ell crank lever 18 is pivoted, and which to this extent provides a dust proof cap plate, for the lever and the rollback, and bearing for the hub 48 of the rollback.

With a latch constructed as above described, and applied to an open door with the finger grasp of the rod normally below the top of the door, as shownin Fig. 1, the

occupant of an automobileor other vehicle,

having such a door, may from the inside conveniently open it by placing his thumb against the top edge of the door and placretracted from its keeper, and when upon the outside of the closed door, he may'likewlse conveniently and readily open the door on turning the handle 52. W i

In conclusion it is observed that my-invention (provides for unlocking a door from the insi e by a lifting force applied to a reciprocating rod, the construction of which for that purpose is such that but little cutting of the door is required for lnstall ng it, together with the latch in its operative position, and'in the absence of any construe-- tlon objectionabl marring the appearance of the edge oft e door, and w 1th' the rod and latch so located as to malntam their bearings dust proof, and which is non-rattling and adapted to likewise be provlded turned lug 58, se-' with a rollback and be conveniently operated from both the inside and outside of the door with the application of a minimum force consistent with the use of a spring of sufficient force to normally project the latch bolt from its case.

In other words my invention provides for l cheapest possible cost of a latch adapted for its uses and purposes.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

.1. A latch for vehicle doors comprising in combination a movable latch bolt, a plate secured thereto provided longitudinally with an elongated slot, a fixed stud forming a bearing for said late and projecting through said slot, a'ditpted to direct and maintain the bolt in a fixed path of movement, a lug reciprocating rod arranged and operating at an angle with reference to the path of movement of the bolt, a bell crank lever one n r arm vof which has its bearing against said plate stud, and the other arm between the end walls ofthe rod slot, whereby the rod projecting from said plate, a.

and the latch bolt are positively connected,

- the one with the other.

2. A latch comprising in combination a movable bolt, means for supporting and di; recting the path of movement of said bolt, a lug projecting from the bolt structure, a

sprlng engaging said lug and normally pro- 7 jecting the bolt from the latch, a reciprocating rod located at an angle to the path of movement of the bolt provided with a transverse slot, the surface of the opposing end walls of which are convexed, a bell crank lever, one arm of which has a bearing against said lug, with its other arm'projecting in said slot, the surfaces of which opposing the end walls ofthe slot are respectively'convex and concave, bearing surface of the arm agaln'st the rod is increased and its angle with reference to its fulcrum and the axis of the rod is decreased during the upward movement of the arm retracting the bolt, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

3. A latch for vehicle doors comprising in combination a movable bolt, a reciprocating rod the path of movement ofwhich is at an angle to that of the bolt, means connectwhereby the j,

ciprocating rod located at a right angle with reference to the length of the bolt for actuating said bolt, means connecting said rod and bolt, an oscillating means having permanent contact with said connecting means adapted for moving the bolt independently of the rod.

5. A latch for vehicle doors comprising in combination a latch bolt, a reciprocating rod the path of movement of which is at an angle to that of the bolt for actuating said bolt, means connecting said bolt and rod, a horizontal spindle arranged at a right angle to the path of movement of the rod,

and the cam on said spindle permanently contactlng with said connecting means for opgrating the bolt independently of the r0 6. A latch for vehicle doors comprising in combination a face plate, a bolt movable horizontally through said face plate, a rod reciprocating in apath at an angle to and for actuating; the bolt, means connecting said bolt and rod, and an oscillating cam having permanentcontact withthe face plate and the connecting means, said cam being provided with parallel surfaces adapted for 7 simultaneously contacting with the surface of the face plate and said connecting means, when in its normal position of rest, and adapted to prevent a noisy, rattling contact. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and aflixed my seal, this 28th day of April, A. D. 1915.

WILLIAM H, APPLEBY. [1,. s],

Witnesses:

M. B. ELSNER, JNo. G.'ELLIOTT. 

